The School District of Osceola County announced that five county students have been selected as winners of National Merit Scholarships.
The five awards have been financed by Florida colleges:
- David Evans, NeoCity Academy – National Merit University of Central Florida Scholarship
- Leonardo Fermin, NeoCity Academy – National Merit Florida State University Scholarship
- Erika Kim, NeoCity Academy – National Merit University of Florida Scholarship
- Benjamin Solomon, Celebration High – National Merit University of Central Florida Scholarship
- Kevin Thomas, Tohopekaliga High – National Merit University of Central Florida Scholarship
Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the Finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.
The 2,500 winners, representing less than 1% of high school seniors, had to be top in their state with an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and earn standardized test scores that meet the NSM benchmarks..
An additional group of Scholars will be announced in July.
FROM OCSA TO NYO JAZZ: Three ensemble members who attend Osceola County School for the Arts will perform and tour with National Youth Orchestra (NYO) Jazz this summer.
Xavier Anderson (trumpet), Danial Browne (trombone) and Diego Aviles-Martinez (drums) have been selected, and from July 19–31, they will take part in an intensive training residency at Purchase College, State University of New York (SUNY) before performing at Carnegie Hall and embarking on a tour that includes stops in San Francisco and Taichung, Shanghai, and Beijing, China/
According to Carnegie Hall, they will "Work with leading players from America’s top professional orchestras, and NYO Jazz is guided by a stellar faculty comprised of some of the finest jazz artists on the scene today as they prepare for their annual Carnegie Hall performances and tours."
“Each year, these remarkable ensembles bring together the finest young students from across the country who share an extraordinary commitment to music and a deep curiosity about the world around them," said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director. "During their New York residency and subsequent tours, they will challenge and inspire one another, develop lasting friendships, and grow both as musicians and as young leaders. We look forward to sharing their artistry with audiences at Carnegie Hall and around the globe as they serve as exceptional cultural ambassadors for the United States.”
Anderson, Browne, Aviles-Martinez and NYO Jazz will perform in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage from July 30–August 1 as part of Carnegie Hall’s United in Sound: America at 250 festival, led by trumpeter and bandleader Kris Johnson and mentored by some of America’s top jazz masters as part of in-depth training workshops.
In its ninth year, the 2026 NYO Jazz band features 22 members—ages 16–19 and hailing from across the US—who have each been recognized by Carnegie Hall as being among the finest jazz players in the country following a comprehensive and highly selective audition process.
